Plans for 2014

Notice:

Effective immediately, Monday night classes for the rest of the session are suspended. Due to low registration, the City of Ottawa has ended our Monday night program. Wednesday night Kenjutsu classes will continue unaffected. This is a temporary measure, as we will resume classes this upcoming January. Thank you for your understanding.

Kodachi and Nito-jutsu

This Autumn we will explore two aspects of the Kodachi (short sword): first is the weapon by itself, followed by its role in Jinen Ryu Nito-jutsu, the "art of two swords".

The Kodachi (literally a "small tachi", where tachi means a sword) is the short sword which always accompanies the warrior. While a longer sword might not be acceptable in certain social settings and unsuitable for use inside houses, marketplaces, and other crowded settings, the Kodachi would always be at his side. Weighting less, and with a length no more than two shaku (60.6cm, or 23.86 in), it could be worn comfortably at the hip, where it would not protrude. The Kukishin Ryu techniques of the Kodachi focus on mastering one's body movement against an opponent wielding a long sword. Rather than try to counter the longer weapon with the short sword, these kata teach timing, deception, and explosiveness to close the distance.

Nito-jutsu, of the Jinen Ryu, uses both swords of the daisho, or "large-small" set of paired swords. With the Katana in the right hand and the Kodachi in the left, you can ward, parry, cut, and thrust with either blade. Miyamoto Musashi was the most famous proponent of this method, and his style of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu, or Niten-ryu, survives in different forms today. Rather than being a way to double up your attacks, or cut with blinding speed, Nito-jutsu is a way to manage multiple attackers. The weight of each sword, particularly the Katana, is difficult to control when cutting swiftly. Therefore, the key to Nito-jutsu is to use your whole body movement with each technique, not merely to swing your arms.

Military Combatives / Self-Defence workshop with Cris Anderson: Saturday, Sept. 27th

The Jinenkan Ottawa Dojo will host a new workshop by returning Military Combatives instructor Cris Anderson. Our previous sessions have been very successful. The format of this workshop will be somewhat different from what returning participants have experienced.

The first half of the workshop will focus on Cris' intensive research into modern self-defense needs, especially on the crucial cues and habits that are too often missed. For the second half, we're going back in history, to focus explicitly on one of the systems of World War II Combatives which is his specialty.

The workshop will be at the Heron Road Community Centre, on Saturday, Oct. 26th. The cost is $20. This will be a City of Ottawa program.

You can register online through the City of Ottawa, or in person at any City of Ottawa recreation facility. Please call the Heron Road Community Centre at 613-247-4808 for more information about registration.

For this workshop, you will only need to dress in pants with no snaps, buttons or zipper, please. T-shirt or sweat shirt is fine. Bring your water bottle and notebook.

For more information about the workshop, email andy@jinenkan-ottawa.com or call 613-263-0441.